Your nervous system is your lifelong companion – quietly regulating your breathing, heartbeat, digestion, and even your mood. But in our fast-paced, always-connected world, it often gets stuck in overdrive, pulling you into fight, flight, or freeze.
The truth is: your nervous system doesn’t need taming. It needs friendship. And when you know how to nurture it, you give your body a sense of safety – the foundation for healing, balance, and energy.
Step 1: Notice before you fix
Before rushing to “calm down,” pause and check in. Are your shoulders tight? Is your breath shallow? Are you clenching your jaw? These are small but important messages from your body. A friend doesn’t ignore a cry for help: they listen first.
Step 2: Speak in sensations, not words
Your nervous system responds to physical cues more than pep talks. Try:
- Breathwork for calm: Inhale through your nose for four counts, exhale for six counts. This longer exhale signals “safety” to your body.
- Grounding through touch: Stand barefoot on the floor or grass, feeling the texture under your feet.
- Sensory comfort: Wrap yourself in a soft shawl, sip warm tea, or light a candle with a soothing scent.
Step 3: Build your safety toolkit
Create a list of quick, reliable “calm triggers” – a gentle yoga pose, a favourite playlist, a 10-minute walk, or splashing cool water on your face. Over time, these become safety anchors your body trusts.
Step 4: Make it a daily rhythm
Don’t wait for stress to hit. Weaving nervous system care into your everyday life – a few deep breaths in the morning, a grounding pause between meetings -shifts your baseline from tense to steady.
Your nervous system isn’t something to control — it’s something to care for. The more you treat it like a friend, the more it will show up for you in moments you need it most.
